Brushing Up on High-Quality Oral Health Care for Children with Medical Complexity

Explore oral health challenges and care disparities affecting children with special health care needs through this 32-minute Complex Care Journal Club podcast episode. Examine a mixed-methods study that investigates the oral health experiences of medically complex children, identifying specific dental problems they face and the barriers their families encounter when seeking quality dental care. Learn about the unique oral health risks associated with medical complexity, including medication-related dental issues, feeding difficulties, and challenges with routine oral hygiene. Discover strategies for improving access to specialized dental services and understand how healthcare providers can better support families navigating the complex intersection of medical and dental care. Gain insights into research methodologies for studying vulnerable pediatric populations and explore practical approaches for disseminating study findings to improve clinical practice and policy. Understand the broader implications of oral health disparities in children with special health care needs and learn evidence-based strategies for addressing these challenges in clinical settings.